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CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE KNEE-JOINT. 
believed, and is shown by the limb being advanced more slowly and the 
stride shortened, whilst the knee-joint is imperfectly flexed and the limb 
abducted when weight is placed on it. If both limbs be affected, or if 
the process be confined to the lower portion of the joint, which in the 
horse is only slightly movable, there may be no lameness. According 
to Cherry, such a horse gives the rider the feeling that the thorax is 
pressed out of position and rises with every stride. The condition is 
most liable to be mistaken for navicular disease. The limb is extended, 
and turned slightly outwards. The quarters of the foot often reach the 
ground first, and on account of the peculiar gait the condition was in 
England termed “ chest founder.” The pace naturally assumed is a 
short, unpleasant gallop, which shakes the rider. The forward stride of 
the diseased limb is shortened, giving a certain resemblance to shoulder 
lameness. The difference consists in— 
(a) The circular sweep of the limb when moved forward. 
(b) In the horse bringing the quarter of the hoof to the ground first. 
(c) In the production of pain by forcibly flexing the joint. 
Course. The nature of the disease explains why it is so often chronic 
or incurable. The most favourable cases last from four to six months, 
and it is therefore of great importance to know whether or not the horse 
will afterwards be useful. The smaller the exostoses, and the lower they 
are situated, the more favourable the prognosis. The disease is, of 
course, not so serious in heavy working-horses as in hacks. 
Treatment. Treatment is principally confined to blistering or the 
use of the actual cautery, and though usually ineffective, sometimes 
decreases the lameness in two or three months. Where the growths 
arise from the periosteum of the metacarpus the pointed cautery is of 
use. Division of the median nerve sometimes removes the lameness ; 
Moller so far cured several cases by neurectomy that the animals became 
perfectly useful even for carriage work. 
IY.—INFLAMMATION OF THE BURSA OF THE 
FLEXOR PEDIS. 
The large bursa of the flexor pedis perforans and perforatus, lying at 
the back of the knee, may become either acutely or chronically inflamed. 
Acute is commoner than chronic inflammation, and is caused by bruises 
or wounds. The sheath of the tendon may be opened by the horse 
putting its foot into the manger, or by a stab with a fork or other sharp 
instrument. Sometimes cellular inflammation extends from the meta¬ 
carpus to this point; the septic inflammation following tenotomy is most 
dangerous. The chronic form generally starts from the check ligament 
of the flexor pedis, and often produces distension of the bursa, extending 
